QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ramakrishnan, U. Articles by Kettel Khan, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ramakrishnan, U. Articles by Kettel Khan, L.

---

Nutritional Epidemiology

Dietary Intake Does Not Account for Differences in Low Iron Stores among Mexican American and Non-Hispanic White Women: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994^{1 ,2}

Usha Ramakrishnan³, Amy Frith-Terhune^*, Mary Cogswell and Laura Kettel Khan

Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322; ^* Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

³To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. E-mail: uramakr{at}sph.emory.edu.

We used nationally representative data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to examine the relationship between low iron stores (serum ferritin < 12 µg/L) and dietary patterns that might affect iron status among Mexican American (MA) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) girls and women of reproductive age (12–39 y). Dietary data from the qualitative food-frequency questionnaire were used to classify subjects into three categories (using the 25th and 75th quartile values for NHW) for intake of heme iron, nonheme iron, iron absorption enhancers, and iron absorption inhibitors. The prevalence of low iron stores was 17.4% among MA (n = 1368) and 7.9% among NHW (n = 1473). Compared with high intake, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for low iron stores was 1.80 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24–2.62] for medium intake of heme iron and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.25–0.91) for low intake of nonheme iron (plus iron supplement). Compared with no use, use of vitamin C supplements was associated with half the risk of low iron stores (OR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29–0.87). Similar results were found after income and parity were controlled for, except that the protective effect of vitamin C supplements was no longer significant. Even after adjustment for sociodemographic and dietary factors, MA women remained at increased risk for low iron stores (OR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.30–2.49) indicating that the reasons for the higher prevalence of iron deficiency in MA women warrants further investigation.

KEY WORDS: • iron deficiency • dietary supplements • anemia • diet assessment • women

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Peneau, L. Dauchet, A.-C. Vergnaud, C. Estaquio, E. Kesse-Guyot, S. Bertrais, P. Latino-Martel, S. Hercberg, and P. Galan Relationship between iron status and dietary fruit and vegetables based on their vitamin C and fiber content Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1298 - 1305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. McClung, L. J. Marchitelli, K. E. Friedl, and A. J. Young Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia among Three Populations of Female Military Personnel in the US Army. J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2006; 25(1): 64 - 69. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E Mazur, G. S Marquis, and H. H Jensen Diet and food insufficiency among Hispanic youths: acculturation and socioeconomic factors in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2003; 78(6): 1120 - 1127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]